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"A few seconds for injections four days prior to the donation was slightly uncomfortable, and the bone ache that these injections caused was a temporary annoyance, but did not stop me from enjoying my Christmas dinner or playing Nerf gun fights with Toby.

"It is not unusual to be called back to the clinic for a top-up donation the next day if they have not collected enough stem cell units required for the recipient.

"The average unit request is four, but my recipient’s medical team requested seven.

'The most painful thing over the three days was seeing my team lose badly in the local derby'

"I was told that this meant that it was likely that my match was much larger than me and/or due to their illness meant that they needed a very intense stem cell transplant.

Tracey is keen to let people know that donating bone marrow is not painful and is calling for more people to register too and help save lives. (Image: Tracey Bywaters)

"I was therefore hooked up onto the machine for four hours the two following days, but the time went quickly as there are I-Pads by each bed, plus continuous offers of tea/coffee/biscuits and a fab lunch after the donation.

"I travelled back to North Wales from London a few days later, but this then didn’t stop me from travelling the next day to South Wales to see my team Scarlets play Cardiff Blues.

"In fact, the most painful thing over the three days was seeing my team lose badly in the local derby."

Since her procedure, grandmother-of-one, Tracey said she has only heard "very basic" information about the recipient of her bone marrow.

Sign the register to save lives

She knows that he is a man in his 50s who lives in America and that the initial transplant was a success.

After two years and pending the man's health, they will then be allowed full contact with each other, should they wish.

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Tracey added: "Hopefully I have eliminated the misconception that donating bone marrow is a painful procedure and would encourage anyone who may be interested in possibly donating too to register and help change someone's life too."

Since the Marrow for Marley campaign was launched, more than 14,000 people have signed up, including the Wales football team.